Eight tonnes of tobacco leaf seized

Updated: 16:40, Wednesday, 11 November 2009

Eight tonnes of tobacco leaf, which represents an estimated loss to Revenue of €4m, has been seized in Co Monaghan.

1 of 1 Customs & Excise Followed container to Monaghan
Customs & Excise
Followed container to Monaghan

Customs officers seized the consignment and paraphernalia required to manufacture up to 12m cigarettes from a 40ft-container, which had arrived via Holyhead into Dublin Port on Monday.

The load, which was declared as paper, showed up inconsistencies when profiled by officers and when scanned by the Customs X-ray scanner.

The consignment was followed to a premises in Co Monaghan where officers moved in and seized the illegal load.

Officers believe it was destined for a cigarette-making plant in the border area.

The investigation is ongoing nationally and internationally.

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